Profile Rail Fastener With Spring Tabs for Secure Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening devices for profile rails with C-shaped cross sections and longitudinal slots suffer from inadequate hold and centering, leading to play and instability during clamping.
Innovation Solution
The integration of diametrically opposed spring arrangements with curved spring tabs on the fastening device, which extend radially and come into contact with the slot flanks, providing a clamping force that ensures secure hold and centering, regardless of rotation direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fastening device is inserted into the longitudinal slot without spring arrangements, then the device can be easily inserted, but the fastening device has play and is not sufficiently held or centered in the slot
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangements provide a dynamic clamping mechanism that automatically adapts to the insertion process. The springs are pre-tensioned to clamp the fastening device against the slot flanks, providing reliable hold and centering while allowing easy insertion through the resilient nature of the spring elements that yield during insertion and then secure the device in position.
2Reliability
If clamping elements are added below the cover plate to clamp the fastening device, then play is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangements are integrated into the holding device structure, merging the clamping function with the existing holding mechanism. The spring arrangements are diametrically opposed and extend radially outwardly, combining multiple functions (clamping, centering, and holding) into a unified structural element rather than adding separate complex clamping mechanisms.
3Reliability
If spring arrangements are provided between cover plate and threaded plate, then clamping force is provided for secure hold, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arrangements utilize flexible spring elements that can be manufactured as thin, resilient components. These spring elements are designed to be radially resilient with respect to the axis of rotation, allowing them to be formed into curved shapes that provide the necessary clamping force while being relatively simple to manufacture through standard spring fabrication processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The spring tabs ensure reliable clamping and centering of the fastening device within the profile rail, preventing play and accidental disassembly, while also allowing for adjustable spring force to indicate the preferred direction of rotation and prevent overtightening.
Implementation Method 1
spring arrangements diametrically opposed with respect to the rotational axis are provided between the cover plate and the threaded plate for bearing against the slot flanks of the longitudinal slot
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b~3a
Figure 3b~4d
AI summary
The invention relates to a fastening device (20) to be clamped in a profile rail (18) by rotation about an axis of rotation (D), which has a substantially C-shaped cross section and a longitudinal slot (22) having opposite slot flanks (24), wherein the fastening device has a cover plate (28), the length and/or width of which is greater than the width of the longitudinal slot (22) of the profile rail (18), a threaded plate (32), which has a threaded hole (68) and has a length greater than the width of the longitudinal slot (22) and a width smaller than the width of the longitudinal slot (22), and a holding device (30) for the threaded plate (32), arranged on the cover plate (28), to be plugged into the profile rail (18), wherein spring arrangements (56) located diametrically opposite with respect to the axis of rotation (D) are provided between the cover plate (28) and the threaded plate (32) to make contact with the slot flanks (24) of the longitudinal slot (22). According to the invention, the spring arrangements (56) each have two curved spring lugs (58, 59) extending radially outward from the holding device (30) with respect to the axis of rotation (D), each of which extends in opposite directions around the holding device (30) with respect to a circumferential direction. The invention further relates to a fastening subassembly (10) having such a fastening device and having a profile rail (18), which has a substantially C-shaped cross section and the longitudinal slot (22) with opposite slot flanks (24), wherein the length of the threaded plate is greater than the width of the longitudinal slot (22) and the width of the threaded plate (32) is smaller than the width of the longitudinal slot (22).